Flooded ammonia-condenser



W. I. BODINE AND C. R. SOLOMON.

FLOODED AMMONIA CONDENSER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, IQIB.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEEI I W, I. BODINE AND C. R. SOLOMON.

FLOODED AMMONIA CONDENSER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1918.

Patented Feb. 3, 1926.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WILLIAM I. BUDIIQ'E AND CHAR-LES E. TO UNITED IRUN VJGRKS G illilffal .5,

OF MISSOURI.

QUMON, G33 SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS SEEING-FIELD, MISSQURI, A CORPORATION FLOODED rZIlE EQNIA-CONDENSER.

Application filed April 29,

'1 b all whom it may ounce 1%.

Be it known that we, lVILLniM I. Booms and hummus ll. Sononron, citizens of the United States, residing in the city of Springfield, county of Greene, and State of llflissouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Flooded Ammonia- Condensers, of which the following is full, clear, and exact desc iption, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to flooded ammonia condensers.

One object of the invention is to provide a flooded ammonia condenser which is so constructed that the liquid ammonia. discharged from the condenser will he at practi cally the same temperature as the temperature of the water used to cool the condenser.

Another object is to provide a flooded ammonia condenser in which the hot ammonia is supplied to the condenser in such a manner that the liability of back pr ssure being created is reduced to a minimum.

Another object is to provide a multiple coil flooded ammonia condenser whose coils or sections are connected together in such a manner that it is practi ally impossible for one section to become inoperative and deliver hot gas to the liquid line leading from the condenser. Other objects and desirable features of our invention w'll be hereinafter pointed out.

To this end we have devised a flooded ainmonia condenser in which the liquid animonia circulates through the condenser in an opposite direction to the flow of the water that is used to cool the condenser. The cooling water is supplied to the top or upper portion of the coil or closed circulating passageway through which the liquid ammonia circulates, and in flowing downwardly over said coil, extracts the heat from the liquid ammonia. The hot ammonia gas is supplied to the lower portion of the coil preferably by means of a distributing pipe submerged in the liquid ammonia in the lower portion of the coil and provided at numerous points throughout its length with discharge orifices through which the ammonia gas escapes directly into the cold liquid ammonia in the lower portion of the coil, thus causing the to condense instantly. In the form of our invention herein shown the condenser comprises a plu- Speeification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

1318. Serial No. 231,368.

rality of coils or sections, and said sections are connected together in such a manner that in the event that one coil becomes inoperative, due to the failure of the liquid ammonia to circulate properly through same for any reason, such, for example, as an excessive amount of gas in said coil, the weight or pressure of the liquid ammonia in the other coils will exert an influence on the coil which is not operating properly, tending to force the excess gas out of the inoperative coil and thus automatically restoring the equilibrium. By constructing the condenser in this manner it is impossi hle for one coil or section of the condenser to cut out and thus deliver hot ammonia gas to the liquid line leading from the condenser.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevational. View of a flooded ammonia condenser constructed in accordance with our inven tion.

Fig. 2 is a front 'elevational View of the condenser.

Fig. 3 is a Vertical sectional View of one section of the condenser, taken on the line 33 ofFig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View, taken on the line 4c'l of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the preferred form of our invention, A designates a plurality of coils or condenser sections through which liquid ammonia circulates, each of said coils being; preferably composed of a plurality of horizontally disposed pipes connected together in such a manner that they form a closed circulating passageway. the upper and lower ends of each coil being connected to ether by a vertically-disposed pipe 1. Each coil or section of the condenser is also provided with means for causing cooling water to flow downwardly over the outside of the coil and means forsupplving hot animonia gas to the lower portion of the coil. The liou d ammonia is d schar ed from the. upper left hendends of the coils or sections A into a dischar e header B that communir tes with all of the coils A, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. In the form of our invention here n shown the cooling water is supplied to the coils hv means of troughs 0 arran ed above the coils and having notched or saw-toothed noper edges so as to insure an even distribution of the cooling water over the coils. The hot ammonia gas is supplied to a horizontallydisposed gas header D through a connection 2 and is conducted from said gas header through vertically-disposed pipes 3 into gas distributing pipes E in the lower portions of the coils each coil being provided with a separate distributing pipe E. Toe gas distributing pipes E each consist of a horizontally-dis posed pipe arranged inside of the bottom pipe or passageway of the coil with which it cooperates and provided at numerous points throughout its length with discharge orifices l, as shown in Fig. it, so that the hot ammonia gas will escape from the distributing pipe E into cold liquid ammonia in which said distributing pipe is submerged. The distributing pipes ES are also proton ably provided with reduced. discharge er 5 so that the ammonia gas, in escaping from said reduced ends 5, will give the liquid ammonia in the coils a slight impetus upwardly through the coils. An air drain F that is arranged the upper side of the condenser adiacent the front end oi same .1

shown in F 1 is connected lOf." means of branches 6 with the verticallydisposed pipes 1 that connect the upper lower ends oi. the coils together said air drum being provided with a vent *2. Each coil. section A of the condenser provided at its lower end with trap formed by a reurn bend or loop 1 at the lower end of the pipe 1 that leads from the upper end of the coil and all of the coils or sections of the condenser are connected together by an equalizing device. so as to prevent any section ot' the condenser from cutting out and remaining inoperative, and thus throwing the entire work on the remaining sections of the condenser. In the embodiment of our invention herein shown said equalizing device is formed by a horizon tally-disposed pipe 8, shown in Fig. 4-, provided with branches 8 that are conn cted with the loops or traps 1 oi the condenser sections, said branches being equipped with controlling valves 8 Each coil or section of the condenser is provided w th a valve 9 for governing the discharge f the liquid ammonia into the discharge header B. a valve 10 for regulating the supply of gas to the'gas distributing pipe E and a valve 11 arranged in the connection between the air drum F and the return pipe 1 at the front endoi the section. ll hen the condenser is put in operation the coils or sections of same are completely filled with liquid ammonia clear up to the top or upper end of each coil. When the ammonia compressor with which the condenser is used is started. hot ammonia gas will be supplied to the gas header D and will flow from said was h ader into the gas distributing; pipes E in the lower portions of the coils A of the naaasse condenser, the hot ammoniagas escapin through the orifices l reduced ends 0 of sa d distributing pipes and mixing with the cold liquid ammonia in the lower portions of the coils, and thus becoming condensed instantaneously. The liquid aniinonia circulates upwardly through the coils A and by the time it reaches the upper ends of the co ns, the heat has been extracted i'roir. san'ie by the cooling water that flows downwardly over the outer sides of the coils. Consz-nqrently the liquid aninionia that escapes l-rom the condenser into the discharge header B is at practically the same temperature as 'erature of the water used to cool the condenser. it will, of course, be understood that when the condenser is in operation some liquid ammonia is continually passing from the coils into the discharge header B, due, of course. to the fact that the hot ammonia that is supplied to the l wer portions of the coils of the condenser is condensed into liquid aminonia as soon as it mixes with the cold liqt e t uid ammonia in which the distri uting .l

pipes E are submerged. The main body of the liquid ammonia in the condenser that flows from the upper to th lower ends or". the coils through the return pipes 1 is usually within o e or two degrees or" the temperature of the cooling water supplied by the troughs C. Consequently. the hot ammonia s supplied by the distributing pipes will condense instantly, and furdistributing pipes which are provided at =.crous points throughout their length with discharge orifice. through which the ammonia g s escapes directlv into the liquid are-mo.... in which said distributing pipes submerged. Still another desirable ature of our i proved condenser is that it is practically impossible for one coil or section of the condenser to become inoperative. due to failure of the liquid ainnionia to circulate perly through some, and thus supply hot the oischarge lino leading from the condenser. in other words. it the ammonia in one coil should fail to circulate properly. due. for example. to the mixture of and liquid in said coil being render d lifrhter than the liquid in other coils by excessive amount of or pressure of the ammonia in the coils that are operatingproperly will exert an influence on the inoperative coil, tending); to force the gas out or" same and restoring the equilibrium. This, of course, is due to the fact that the condenser is equipped with an equalizing device which connects all of the coils or sections of the condenser together, and so far as we know, this feature is broadly new in a flooded annnonia con-- denser.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the condenser above described. is a complete counter current condenser in which the cooling water circulates over the coils in an opposite direction to the flow of the liquid ammonia through the coils, the liquid ammonia being discharged from. the top or upper ends of the cond nser sections at practically the same temperature as the temperature of the water used to cool the condenser. Furthern'iore, in a condenser of the construction above described, the hot an'imonia gas that is supplied to the condenser condenses instantly upon coming in contact with. the cold liquid ammonia in the lower portions of the coils, and furthermore, said ammonia gas is supplied to the condenser in such a manner that the possibility of back pressure being created is reduced to a minii'nuin. In the flooded ammonia condensers now in general use, (3011* siderable trouble is often experienced if the load lightens or in case an excessive amount of cooling: water is supplied to one coil or section of the condenser, as either of the above conditions would cause some coil 01' the condenser to cut out and throw the en tire work on the remalnlng coils or sections,

the inoperative coil remaining inoperative even after the load becomes normal, or the supply of cooling water become-s normal. In our improved condenser the various sections or coils of the condenser are connected together by an equalizing device which ab solutely eliminates the possibility of one coil or section or" the condenser becoming inoperative and remaining; in an inoperative condition a sufficient length of time to result in hot gas being supplied to the liquid dis charge line leading; from the condenser.

Having); thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A flooded ammonia condenser, comprising a coil or condenser section, means for delivering ammonia gas to one end of said coil, a discharge pipe at the opposite end of said coil through which the excess liquid ammonia escapes. a separate and distinct pipe connecting the upper and lower ends of the coil through which the cooled liquid ammonia circulates freely, an air drum communicating with the upper end of the coil, and means for causing cooling water to flow over the coil in a counter direction to the fiow of the liquid ammonia through the coil.

2. A flooded ammonia condenser, comprising a coil or passageway through which liquid ammonia circulates, and an ammonia gas distributing pipe adapted to be sub merged in the liquid ammonia in said coil, said distributing pipe being. provided at numerous points throughout its length with discharge orifices through which. the ammonia gas escapes and also having a reduced discharge end through which the ammonia gas escapes and thus gives an impetus upwardly to the liquid ammonia circulating through the coil.

3. A flooded ainn'ionia condenser, comprising a plurality of vertically-oisposed coils through which liquid ammonia circulates, the upper and lower ends of each coil being connected together by a return pipe through which the .annnonia circulates freely from the upper to the lower end. of the coil, a trap or loop at the lower end of each coil,.an equalizing device connected to the traps of the various coils so as to establish direct communication between all of the coils, and means for introducing ainmonia into the lower portionof each coil at a point beyond. the trap in the return pipe of the coil.

1-. A flooded ammonia condenser, com.- pi sing a verticallyrdisposed coil through which liquid ammonia circulates. a return pipe leading; from the upper end of said coil and provided at its lower end with a trap that communicates with the bottom pipe of the coil and which is of such crosssectional area that the liquid ammonia vill circulate freely through same, an equalizing device connected to the traps of the various coils so as to establish direct c0mmunication between all of the coils, an ammonia distributing pipe arranged inside of the bottom pipe of the coil and provided at numerous points throughout its length with discharge orifices, and a connection between said distributing pipe and a supply of ammonia gas.

5. A flooded ammonia condenser, comprising a plurality of vertically-disposed coils or condenser sections through which liquid ammonia circulates, a liquid ammonia discharge header communicating with the upper ends of said coils, means for causing cooling water to flow downwardly over said coils. a gas header connected with gas distributing pipes arranged inside of the bottom pipes 0i. the coils, each coil of the condenser being provided with a return pipe leading from the upper to the lower end of the coil and equipped at its lower end with trap or loop that communicates with the bottom pipe of the coil, and an equalizing device common to all of the coils and connected by branches with the traps of the various coils.

6. A flooded ammonia condenser, comprising a plurality of vertically-disposed coils or condenser sections through which liquid ammonia circulates, a liquid ammonia dischar e header communicating with the upp 1 ends of said coils, means for causing cooling water to flow downwardly over said coils, a gas header connected with gas distributing pipes arranged inside of the bottom pipes of the coils, each coil of the condenser being provided with a return pipe leading from the upper to the lower end of the coil and equipped at its lower end with a trap or loop that communicates with the bottom pipe of the coil, means for establishing free communication at all times between the traps of the various coils, and a vented air drum provided with branches that communicate with the top pipe of each coil.

'7. A flooded ammonia condenser, co1nprising a plurality of coils or condenser ections through which liquid ammonia circulates, and an equalizing device that establishes direct communication between the lower ends of said coils in such a manner that in the event that the liquid ammonia in one coil fails to circulate properly, due

to the presence of an excessive amount of gas in said coil, the weight or pressure of the liquid ammonia in the operative coils will cause the excess gas to be expellec from the inoperative coil and thus restore the equilibrium.

8. A flooded ammonia condenser, com prising a plurality of coils or condenser sections, each of which has a return pipe through which the ammonia circulates freely from the upper to the lower end of the coil, and an equalizing device that establishes direct communication between the lower ends of all of the coils or sections and thus eliminates the possibility of one coil becoming inoperative due to the presence of an excessive amount of gas in said coil.

9. A flooded ammonia condenser, comprising a plurality of vertically-disposed coils or condenser sections through which liquid anmonia circulates, each of said coils having a return pipe tint leads from the upper end of the coil, a trap or loop arranged between each oi said return pipes and the lower end of the coil with. which said return pipe cooperates, thus forming a closed circulating passageway, and means for establishing communication between the traps oi the various coils or sections of the condenser.

10. A flooded ammonia condenser, coinprising a plurality of vertically-disposed coils or condenser sections through which liquid ammonia circulates, each of said coils having a return pipe that leads from the upper end of the coil, a trap or loop arranged between each Of said return pipes and the lower end of the coil with which said return pipe cooperates, thus fomning a closed circulating passageway, means for establishing communication between the traps of the various coils or sections of the condenser, and an ammonia gas distributing pipe arranged inside of the bottom pipe of each coil of the condenser and provided at numerous points throughout its length with discharge orifices through which ammonia gas escapes and mixes with the liquid ammonia in the bottom portion of the coil.

WILLIAM I. BODINE; CHARLES R. SOLOMON. 

